Book Review and Giveaway: Talon: Combat Tracking Team (A Breed Apart Book 2) by Ronie Kendig

This has good characters and engaging action and suspense…plus a dog. :-)

Talon: Combat Tracking Team (A Breed Apart Book 2)

by Ronie Kendig


File Size: 1045 KB
Print Length: 352 pages
Publisher: Shiloh Run Press (May 1, 2013)
Publication Date: May 1, 2013
ASIN: B00C1T441O
Genre: Mystery Suspense, Military, Christian
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Aspen Courtland is out to find her missing brother. Only his combat tracking dog, Talon, knows where to look. Problem is, after a brutal attack that separated dog and handler, Talon’s afraid of his own shadow. The search is on, but when one mistake means disaster, can Talon muster the courage for one last mission?

Review:
Aspen Courtland was in the military service, but not in combat. She manages her own activities to keep fit, including boxing. She is working with her missing brother’s combat tracking dog, Talon. Aspen is half preparing for the chance to go abroad to look for her brother. If only she had a hint that he was alive and where to look.

Cardinal was raised in a very difficult situation. Now he is a government “asset” staying low and waiting for the chance to find his missing protégé, Austin Courtland. He finally gets the “go ahead” and reaches for another resource that he needs to locate Austin: Talon. Cardinal doesn’t tell his secrets – to anyone. He won’t be telling Aspen his connection to her brother but he needs the dog. What Cardinal didn’t plan on was Aspen as the handler who has to come along with the dog to find Austin.

Aspen, Talon and Cardinal, and a few friends, go to Africa to try to pick up the trail where Cardinal thinks he last saw Austin. Talon has bonded with Aspen but it isn’t clear if he is totally ready as he is still suffering from PSTD. Things become very tense and the team comes under fire. Aspen grows closer to Cardinal and tries to make him break from his secrets. Then a threat comes to challenge Cardinal with Aspen and Talon witnessing.

Cardinal is a dark loner and wonderfully conflicted character. His darkness is balanced – and challenged -- by Aspen’s sweet nativity and trust. I enjoyed the conflicted romance, the action, the dog element and the faith references, even though I thought there could have been some capitalizing on God’s control.

I (and the other book club ladies) really enjoyed the story as a whole. However, there are issues. The story bounces between characters but this is a style that Ms. Kendig uses. I have read some of her other military books and she jumps between scenes and characters as the story builds so that was okay for me. A couple of the characters have multiple aliases so you have to figure out who is who. I recognized several of the characters from the Quiet Professionals series by Ms. Kendig. The underlying conspiracy of corruption involves some of those characters without having filled in backstory. It would have been nice to provide that connection although it isn’t totally necessary to enjoy this story. There were also unexplained or loose ends: how was some of the intelligence of the enemy obtained? How did everyone get time off at the end?

So it wasn’t perfectly executed but it was still engaging. I recommend it to those who enjoy military action, military dogs and of course a romance with a rogue hero.

I picked this title up at a good price last November for our Ladies Book Club. I count it for TBR Triple Dare, March 2016 TBR Challenge and "T" in Alphabet Soup.

GIVEAWAY: Two Winners:

One (gently read) PRINT COPY

US Only for Print; Worldwide for eBook

ENTRY FORM HERE

(Don't forget to fill in the form for entry!

I have noticed a few commenters who forgot to enter through the Form.)

For 3 Extra Bonus entries

(a) comment on the review, OR

(b) Visit the Author's website and tell me something you learned or like there.

* This contest is open to US only for Print Copy.
* This contest will close 5 PM (Central) March 14 , 2016.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after March 14, 2016.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond on the winners form linked in the announcement or by email.

Martha's Bookshelf***Friday Pick Giveaway March 4, 2016

Oh Yay, again! Happy Friday!
I am glad it is the end of another week although they are going too fast. I am still scrambling to catch up. We've had a nice visit with son, d-i-l and our beautiful granddaughter.  They are away for the weekend getting our son set u p in his temporary housing.
I have a list for new books but no picture yet. I will try to get one Saturday.

TO ENTER FRIDAY PICK

US Entrants: Leave a comment and tell me WHICH BOOK you would like to get from the Friday Pick lists.
INTERNATIONAL: Leave a comment indicating "Gift Card" (see further comments near the end of the post.)

CUT OFF TIME IS THURSDAY NIGHTS AT 9:00 PM CENTRAL so I do not have to stay up too late to do the winner post! I will randomly pick two winners to announce Friday mornings with the next Pick post.

Thank you to all who entered the February 26 Pick. There was only one automatic win again this week. Automatic wins are those who requested the book four times without other people asking for that book during those weeks. There was one blocked title and it was won.
Elizabeth gets Short Straw Bride.

CONGRATULATIONS
to Random.org picked Winners from February 26 Pick:
Adelaida gets a GC

bn100 gets Undercurrents won through the block.

All winners please fill in the Winner's Acceptance Form or email me to confirm your win, send your snail mail address information and let me know if you would like bookmarks - sensual, sexy or sweet bookmarks. {The form is new because Google changed their forms and the old one wasn't letting me print out the responses.}

Oh - there is something about the idea of books and madness!

Image found at The Laker Anchor.

New Book Group #64 March 4, 2016

PAIRS:
Elizabeth Boyle: His Mistress by Morning and This Rake of Mine (The Bachelor Chronicles Book 2)
Kay Hooper: If There Be Dragons and The Matchmaker
Lisa Jackson: Left to Die and Twice Kissed
SINGLES:
Guilty Pleasures by Stella Cameron
The Theft by Andra Kane
Bed of Roses by Katherine Stone
Hope by Len Deighton (1995 paperback)
Short Straw (Ed Eagle Novel) by Stuart Woods Hardcover
First Things First by Stephen R. Covey- Audio Cassette
N is for noose by Sue Grafton -Cassettes
The Fallen by Thomas Sniegoski
Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
Regretsy: Where DIY Meets WTF by April Winchell


New Book Group #63 January 22, 2016
(I have the picture and will try to get the list up before I crash. Sorry no links right now.)

PAIRS:
Victoria Alexander: The Pursuit of Marriage (slight creasing) and When We Meet Again
Shannon Drake: Reckless and When we Touch
James Patterson: Black Friday and Hide and Seek (both have spine creasing)
SINGLES:
Presidential Antidotes by Paul F. Boller, Jr.
Undercurrents by Stella Cameron
Lead Me On by Victoria Dahl
Warrior Ascended by Addison Fox
Parallel Attraction by Deidre Knight
Moving Target by Cheyenne McCray
Wayward Winds by Michael Phillips - Audio Tapes
Walking After Moonlight by Karen Robards
Forgotten Promises by Denise Skelton
A Walk to Remember by Nicolas Sparks - hardback

New Book Group #62 November 6, 2015

Touch Me by Beverly Rae (personally autographed)


New Book Group #61 October 30, 2015
After I noticed the trend I went on a hunt for “bride” titles. I even pulled a couple from some of my long time collections(*). (But they are not getting read on my shelves.)

PAIRS:
Leigh Greenwood –  The Reluctant Bride and The Independent Bride
Jane Feather(*) – The Hostage Bride and The Accidental Bride
SINGLES:
The de Burgh Bride by Deborah Simmons
The Forever Bride by Evelyn Rogers (Seam creasing)
Short Straw Bride by Dallas Schultz
Bride of Lochbarr by Margaret Moore (*)
The Ideal Bride by Stephanie Laurens (*)
Honor’s Bride by Galye Wilson
A Necessary Bride by Debra Mullins
Border Bride by Deborah Hale


New Book Group #60 September 18, 2015
A set of "haunting" tales and a few mysteries for October!

Shannon Drake –  Realm of Shadows (Alliance Vampires#4) 
SINGLES:
Bloody Good by Georgia Evans
Cat of Nine Tales by Deborah Macgillivray
The Shadowing by Joan Overfield
The Renegade Hunter by Lynsay Sands
Trilogy Of Mysteries Audio Book Shadow Prey, There Was A Little Girl, Smokescreen Audio Cassettes (NOT CDs)


New Book Group #59 July 31, 2015
A few more summer titles, historicals and mysteries!

ANTHOLOGIES:
Broken Vows, Mended Hearts by Lynn Stone, Gail Ranstrom and Anne O'Brien
3,2,1 Married! by Sharon Sala, Marie Ferrarella and Beverly Barton
SINGLES:
Cruise to a Wedding by Betty Neels
Little Girl Lost by Shirlee McCoy
You Don't Know Jack by Erin McCarthy

New Book Group #58 June 26, 2015
-- A few summer titles, a few mysteries, a few historicals...

SINGLES:
Servant, The Awakening by L.L. Foster

New Book Group #57 May 1, 2015

SINGLES:
A Little Bit Wild by Victoria Dahl
The Ruthless Greek's Virgin Princess by Trish Morey
Rally Fever by Crea Jones

New Book Group #56 March 20, 2015
(I'll try to get the rest linked another day.)

SINGLES:
The Sweetheart Dance by Patti Ann Colt
Raintree Haunted by Linda Winstead Jones (spine creases)

New Book Group #55 February 5, 2015 -- All Gone

New Book Group #54 December 26, 2014

SINGLES:
Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card - Tape Cassettes


BOX 4 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 47-53)

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
The Hidden Truth of Cytech's Randall Forty byVickie Kennedy
First to Fight Anthology
Jezebel by Katherine Sutcliff
The Commander by Kate Bridges
The Cinderella Plan by Margaret Daley
The Mr. & Mrs. Happy Handbook by Steve Doocy
A Garden of Friends by Penny Pierce Rose
Richard Paul Evans PAIR: The Looking Glass and The Carousel
Undateable by Ellen Rakieten & Anne Coyle
Sleeping with Ward Cleaver by Jenny Gardiner


BOX 3 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 39- 47)

Shetland Summer by Janet Lynnford
Breakfast in Bed by Sandra Brown - Audio Cassette Tapes (link is for mass media version)
Cattle Rancher, Secret Son by Margaret Way
Whisper on the Wind by Joan Smith
Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark
A Lady of Consequence by Mary Nichols
Sweet Talking Man by Betina Krain


BOX 2 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 24- 38)

Thinner by Stephen King
Foundation (Foundation Novels) by Isaac Asimov
Magic: The Gathering Distant Planes, An Anthology
The Willful Widow by Valerie King (spine wear)
Dancing on Snowflakes by Jane Bonander
An Honorable Man by Rosemary Rogers (spine creases)
A Courtesans Guide to Getting Your Man by Susan Donovan and Celeste Bradley -- NOTE This book has dog bite damage; it is missing half back cover and the edges of pages in the back third of the book... it does not effect the text but I will understand if no one wants this one
Tara Taylor Quinn: Father: Unknown and McGillus v.Wright
The Trailsman: Texas Lead Slingers by Jon Sharpe
Anthology: Something Borrowed, Something Blue - this book has spine creases and minor water damage...I thought I had read it and liked it but now I realize it was another anthology I read with Elaine Barbier.


BOX #1 2015 (reboxed from Boxes 1- 23)

Circle of Stars by Anna Lee Waldo
Alien Chronicles - The Crimson Claw by Deborah Chester
Ghost Writer (Shivers #3) by M.D. Spenser
Death Angel by Linda Howard

If you saw the pictures posted of my bookshelves and boxes you know I do have lots of books! And that doesn't include the other eight or so boxes at my office!! And more books as I find deals too good to pass up! I am sharing my book bounty by these Friday Pick Giveaways.

I started Friday Pick on November 27, 2009 and in almost six years I have posted 62 groups of 16 (992) books to find new homes! (as of November 6, 2015).

I am happy to say that so far about 933+ books have found new homes! YAY. I have to update my print out to check the exact number sent out - a few were never claimed. I periodically update the lists - deleting those won. You can still go to the Friday Pick list link to see older posts and the older lists book pictures if you want!

Note rules here regarding international entries.

Because postage to overseas can be prohibitive I am willing to give a $5.00 book certificate to international winners - Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, ARe, TWRP, ClassAct Books, eTreasures, Desert Breeze, etc....you tell me where and I'll set it up. So for my overseas visitors your comment may indicate a smaller book and I'll check postage or note your choice of gift card.

I learned that The Book Depository does not ship to everywhere. The postage for some of the books to far away places runs between $7.00 and $10.00 and up. Since I would award $5.00 for The Book Depository to an international winner, as an alternative you may choose a smaller book and we will hope the postage will not exceed $6.00. If the postage is more, or if you want to pick a larger book and you are willing to pay any extra postage beyond the $6.00 I will work with you on that. This may not make a difference to many but if it helps one or two of you to give one of my books a home that will make me happy too. :o)

Repeating this helpful blog tip: You can right click on a link and you will be given the choice to open the link in a new window or tab so you do not navigate away from the screen you are on!! I use this all the time!

Book Review: The God's Eye View by Barry Eisler

This is a scary thriller that touches on timely issues of technology and privacy.
The God's Eye View
by Barry Eisler

File Size: 4004 KB
Print Length: 417 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1503951510
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (February 2, 2016)
ASIN: B00XT47SOK
Genre: Suspense Thriller, Political, Assassinations
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Knowledge is power…and they know everything.

NSA director Theodore Anders has a simple goal: collect every phone call, email, and keystroke tapped on the Internet. He knows unlimited surveillance is the only way to keep America safe.

Evelyn Gallagher doesn’t care much about any of that. She just wants to keep her head down and manage the NSA’s camera network and facial recognition program so she can afford private school for her deaf son, Dash.

But when Evelyn discovers the existence of an NSA program code-named God’s Eye, and connects it with the mysterious deaths of a string of journalists and whistle-blowers, her doubts put her and Dash in the crosshairs of a pair of government assassins: Delgado, a sadistic bomb maker and hacker; and Manus, a damaged giant of a man who until now has cared for nothing beyond protecting the director.

Within an elaborate game of political blackmail, terrorist provocations, and White House scheming, a global war is being fought—a war between those desperate to keep the state’s darkest secrets and those intent on revealing them. A war that Evelyn will need all her espionage training and savvy to survive. A war in which the director has the ultimate informational advantage: The God’s Eye View.

Review:
Evelyn is a computer analyst with special skills and duties within the NSA network. She has reported suspicious activity between an agent and a reporter to her boss, the Director, Theodore Anders. When her reports begin to lead to a series of deaths, Evelyn becomes concerned about how the information is being used.

The Director has a secret computer program dubbed “God's Eye”, which allows the Director to watch people everywhere. He would like the Congress to pass legislation allowing NSA broad access to cameras and phones. The Director is convinced that the need to know, and to protect the public, supersedes all privacy issues. Until he is able to get more government and public support for his agenda, the Director will do whatever is needed to protect his secret programs.

Director Anders has two assassins he directs to his purposes. One, Delgado, is a man who relishes his work and completes his tasks in brutal fashion. The second, Manus, is a deaf man who was recruited by Anders from a dismal youth to be trained with special skills. Manus has been his loyal servant ever since; following directions without question.

Anders assigns Manus to get close to Evelyn who has a deaf son. Neither Manus nor the Director realize the impact the assignment will have.

This story is very timely in light of government drones and more recently with the conflict between the FBI and Apple to balance investigation goals with privacy issues. Any technology that can be used for spying is subject to abuses. I like to hope that the leaders don't really get this extreme but...it's scary because it could happen, or be happening.

The characters are well developed and I liked the dynamics between Evelyn and Manus as well as those between Anders, his assistant and his 'clean-up' team. There were a few loose threads at the end but that doesn't negate the suspense getting there.

This is full of action and suspense, sometimes with brutal killing. The writing was straight forward, engaging, and made for good reading. I caution readers who may be squeamish about violence, but highly recommend this political thriller.

I received this through NetGalley. It qualifies for my NetGalley Challenge.

Audible Book Review: Reunion in Death: In Death, Book 14, by J.D. Robb

This is another grand crime thriller for Eve, Roarke and Peabody.

Reunion in Death: In Death, Book 14
Written by: J. D. Robb
Narrated by: Susan Ericksen

Length: 12 hrs and 59 mins
Series: In Death, Book 14
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:05-15-13
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Genre: Modern Detective
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Publisher's Summary
At exactly 7:30 p.m., Walter Pettibone arrived home to over a hundred friends and family shouting, "surprise!" It was his birthday. Although he had known about the planned event for weeks, the real surprise was yet to come. At 8:45 p.m., a woman with emerald eyes and red hair handed him a glass of champagne. One sip of birthday bubbly, and he was dead.

The woman's name is Julie Dockport. No one at the party knew who she was. But Detective Eve Dallas remembers her all too well. Eve was personally responsible for her incarceration nearly ten years ago. And now, let out on good behavior, she still has nothing but bad intentions. It appears she wants to meet Dallas again - in a reunion neither will forget...
©2013 J. D. Robb (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc

Review:
NY homicide detective, Lieutenant Eve Dallas, and her successful businessman-husband, Roarke, have returned from a relaxing vacation. Initially Eve has no pressing cases so she pulls a cold case and begins to work it with her aide, Peabody. Soon a murder comes in to pull Eve's attention so she gives the cold case to Peabody as a side assignment as they begin the pursuit of the new murder.

Very quickly Eve suspects the MO of a female killer she put behind bars years before. Sure enough, the woman has been released from prison and has lined up targets, including Eve and Roarke. This sets up conflict between the strong-headed couple as they jockey for ways to protect each other and to capture the deadly enemy.

Peabody's intriguing parents arrive to make matters interesting on the home front. Eve isn't the most comfortable hostess and now she has to play nice with this unusual and sensitive couple.

Eve's chase of the murderer has Roarke accompanying her to Dallas and Italy. I laughed over the city girl's reaction to the country setting, keeping in mind the futuristic aspects that result in Eve being unfamiliar with farm smells and critters.  On the other side of the globe, Eve has to work her way through the red tape of the Italian police hoping to get to their suspect before she slips back to US where she is likely to go after Roarke.

As always, there is plenty of good action and police procedure as well as engaging dialog. There is emotional trauma as Eve faces her childhood memories in Dallas. I liked how Peabody’s parents came to appreciate her skills and career choice as she got to cut her teeth on a case of her own. There is some POV, head hopping that works with this series.

This is a reliably wonderful series with each book presenting police suspense and personal conflicts among the characters. Although the stories could be read out of order I recommend starting at the beginning so you can enjoy the development of the character relationships.

Audio Notes: Susan Ericksen once again does a stellar job of narration. She added the voice of the villain and Peabody’s parents to her already wonderful range of characters. I always enjoy the listening experience for this series.

This is from my own Audible Library, picked up last year. It does qualify for my Triple Dog Dare, my Audio Challenge and R in my Alphabet Soup Challenge.

March 2016 Take Control of Your TBR Pile Challenge

I wasn't sure I would do this event but when I checked the rules the books have to be released before 3/1/16 so I should have a good group of those except for a few of the new March releases on my list.
I have a list of review titles this month so I am not going to guess which other TBRs I'll get to, but I will slip them in as I can!

Thank you to the host: Kimberly at Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
The basics:

For the entire month of March you focus on reading/listening to books in your TBR pile released before March 1, 2016. They can be eBooks, physical books or audiobooks. Let’s clean off those shelves, finish those series and trilogies and have some fun.

Check the link for all of the rules -- and HAPPY READING!